21st Century Kampung

Seniors come first in this award-winning mixed development by WOHA Architects, which is located in the northern area of Singapore

In December 2018, Kampung Admiralty, a new retirement community in Woodlands, Singapore, was awarded the prestigious World Building of the Year award at the World Architecture Festival in Amsterdam, beating 535 other projects from 57 countries. The WOHA Architects-designed development, which houses amenities for seniors like flats, community gardens, health clinics, medical facilities, and even a hawker center and supermarket, is a testament to the changing face of eldercare. In this Garden of Babylon-style building, tiered gardens showcase an assortment of plants spilling from the ledges that wrap around the structure, while the interiors of the medical center are bathed in natural light thanks to floor-to-ceiling glass windows, resulting in wellness and healing. The furniture used is modern and stylish, while social spaces are conveniently located within a few meters of each other, encouraging interaction and community building. And according to a statement from WOHA, the close proximity of the elderly residents to healthcare, social, and commercial amenities “supports inter-generational bonding and promotes active ageing in place.” For a closer look at the award-winning development, the following gallery highlights its architectural features, key locations, and available services for residents and the public.